Quiz: Can You Identify the NBA Team If We Give You Three of Their Current Players?: HowStuffWorks

Can You Identify the NBA Team If We Give You Three of Their Current Players?

SPORTS

By: Jonnathan Chadwick

6 Min Quiz

Image: Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

About This Quiz

Between the buzzer beaters, triple overtimes, no-look passes, slam dunks and Game 7s, the NBAs players entertain the world. The league is the world's greatest reality show, and its athletes are some of the most popular. Unlike football or hockey, NBA stars aren't covered in pads and helmets, and unlike baseball or soccer fields, basketball courts are highly accessible. Front-row tickets at a basketball game will put you close enough to have a conversation with your favorite player during the game.

Each NBA team has about 12 men on its roster and a few more on the practice squad. Across all 30 NBA teams, the 2018-19 season kicked off with 494 active players. Some players get traded, some players get fired, some players get injured and some players get benched, so there's no telling how many active players finished the season, but there's a lot of players to choose from nevertheless. If you're a die-hard fan, you can probably identify any team based on just one player.

So do you know where the Splash Brothers play? What about The Beard? What about The Brow? We won't give you the city or the mascot, just the name of three current players. Do you think you'll be able to identify the team? Put your NBA skills to the test here.

Wiki Commons by Chrishmt0423 / Chensiyuan / Frenchieinportland

Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Patrick Beverley all play for what West Coast team expected to win it all?

Los Angeles Clippers

Denver Nuggets

Sacramento Kings

Phoenix Suns

The Los Angeles Clippers had no All-Stars on their roster in the 2018-19 season but they still made the playoffs. The Lakers, who play in the same building and have LeBron, didn't make the playoffs. With the addition of Leonard and George, the Clippers have high hopes for 2020.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / Erik Drost / Frenchieinportland

Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson are tasked with returning what franchise to greatness?

Milwaukee Bucks

Chicago Bulls

Indiana Pacers

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in complete rebuilding phase. Without LeBron on the team, there is no clear superstar or leader on the team. They went from the top of the NBA to the bottom, but are hopeful they can return soon.

Advertisement

NCAA / Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / Wiki Commons by LUIS BLANCO

College superstar Ja Morant plays alongside Jonas Valanciunas and Miles Plumlee on what West Coast squad?

Memphis Grizzlies

Portland Trailblazers

Oklahoma City Thunder

Milwaukee Bucks

The Vancouver Grizzlies, created in 1995, were located in Canada until 2001 until they moved to Memphis. College superstar Ja Morant joins the team for the 2020 season, but Grizzly legend Mike Conley is gone.

The lineup of Joel Embid, James Ennis III and Ben Simmons lead what historic franchise?

Boston Celtics

Philadelphia 76ers

New York Knicks

Los Angeles Lakers

The international duo of Simmons (Australia) and Embid (Cameroon) is one of the premier forces in the NBA. The team lost Jimmy Butler but added a few key additions. They are expected to make a serious run for the NBA championship in the near future.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / J. Smith

Russell Westbrook, Eric Gordon and James Harden play on what Western Conference contender?

San Antonio Spurs

Houston Rockets

Denver Nuggets

Portland Trailblazers

James Harden (aka The Beard) could not get past the Golden State Warriors and bring the Houston Rockets to an NBA Championship. That was supposed to change when Chris Paul joined the team, but they still haven't made it. Now Paul is gone and Westbrook will take a try.

Giannis Antetokounmpo hails from Athens, Greece and the 6'11'' athlete has the post-up moves and dribbling skills to play every position on the floor. He was drafted 15th overall after playing pro ball in Greece.

Kevin Knox, Frank Ntilikina and Dennis Smith Jr. are all first-round draft picks that play for what historic team?

Boston Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers

New York Knicks

Philadelphia 76ers

The New York Knicks have had three lottery picks in the past five years and haven't won the NBA Draft Lottery since its inception in 1985. They selected Knox ninth overall in 2018 and Ntilikina eight overall in 2017. They selected Kristaps Porzingis fifth in 2015 but traded him for Smith Jr.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / Norma Gonzalez

What Midwest team does Victor Oladipo, Jeremy Lamb and Myles Turner play for?

Milwaukee Bucks

Indiana Pacers

Chicago Bulls

Cleveland Cavaliers

Victor Oladipo's full name is Kehinde Babatunde Victor Oladipo, and he was the second overall pick in the 2013 draft, going to the Orlando Magic. He then played with Russell Westbrook in OKC before being traded for Paul George in 2017.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / TonyTheTiger

Damian Lillard, Pau Gasol and CJ McCollum have plans of leading what NBA team to the championship?

Portland Trailblazers

Sacramento Kings

Utah Jazz

Phoenix Suns

Lilliard and McCollum are two of the most underrated players in the league and make up the most underrated duo in years. The franchise has been mostly overshadowed by the greatness of other West Coast teams, but they return a strong roster in 2020.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Catherine Salaün / Erik Drost / barberbonanza

Jimmy Butler, Justise Winslow and Dion Waiters play on what NBA team?

Orlando Magic

Miami Heat

Phoenix Suns

Sacramento Kings

Miami's best player, Dwyane Wade, retired in 2019 ,and the team added Jimmy Butler to fill the void. He'll have big shoes to fill and will be helped by Winslow and Waiters. The team has a strong shot at a playoff run.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / Game Face

Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard and JaVale McGee all play on what West Coast team?

Phoenix Suns

Los Angeles Lakers

Portland Trailblazers

Sacramento Kings

The Los Angeles Lakers are in full rebuilding mode, and there's no telling what they will do next. The team underwent a host of changes in the 2019 off-season and will begin the 2019-20 season as a favorite for the championship.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / Frenchieinportland / TonyTheTiger

Where do Devin Booker, Ricky Rubio and DeAndre Ayton play?

Sacramento Kings

Phoenix Suns

Atlanta Hawks

Orlando Magic

Devin Booker scored 70 points in a game against the Boston Celtics in 2017 and became just the sixth player in NBA history to score at least 70 points in a single game. The Suns drafted Ayton with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Verse Photography / Keith Allison

Blake Griffin recently moved from Hollywood to the Motor City to join Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson on what team?

Memphis Grizzlies

Detroit Pistons

Indiana Pacers

Chicago Bulls

The Los Angeles Clippers once featured a prime trio of Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, but after Paul and Jordan left, Griffin was soon to follow. He now plays for coach Dwane Casey in Detroit.

Advertisement

Minnesota Timberwolves via YouTube / Wiki Commons by Susan Lesch

Jordan Bell plays with Karl-Anthony Towns and Jeff Teague on what team?

Denver Nuggets

Sacramento Kings

Minnesota Timberwolves

Charlotte Hornets

Recently, the Minnesota Timberwolves had a stacked roster, but after many changes, things have began to dwindle. The franchise is now solely led by Towns, and they'll have a lot of work to do to compete with the rest of the Western Conference.

Without Kawhi Leonard, the Toronto Raptors are looking to repeat a championship with a roster built around Lowry, Ibaka and Gasol. The team is still one of the best in the East and is likely to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Frenchieinportland / Javier Mendia García / Ed

This team has a thing for European players, listing Boban Marjanovic, Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis on its roster. Which is it?

Sacramento Kings

Utah Jazz

Denver Nuggets

Dallas Mavericks

Before Doncic, Porzingis and Marjanovic, the Mavs were led by one of the NBAs most popular European players, Dirk Nowitzki, who played 21 seasons with the team. The only other player to play 20 seasons with the same team is Kobe Bryant.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / Erik Drost / TonyTheTiger

Draymond Green, D'Angelo Russell and Jordan Poole round out a stacked roster for what NBA team?

Golden State Warriors

Denver Nuggets

Los Angeles Lakers

Philadelphia 76ers

Green was drafted by the Warriors in 2012 and has remained loyal to the franchise. The team lost a few players, but also added some key additions and are expected to be a contender in the 2020 season.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by SneakinDeacon / TonyTheTiger / ATL Hawks via Youtube

Cameron Reddish plays with Trae Young and Alex Len on what East Coast team?

Miami Heat

Philadelphia 76ers

Atlanta Hawks

Boston Celtics

The Atlanta Hawks has had little success in the NBA for the past couple of decades. They acquired Trae Young in 2018 and drafted Cameron Reddish in 2019. Both were first-round draft picks and offer a promising future.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Verse Photography / Jan Fante / Frenchieinportland

Mike Conley, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell all play on what team?

Sacramento Kings

Phoenix Suns

Utah Jazz

Portland Trailblazers

Rudy Gobert was drafted 27th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Denver Nuggets but was traded to the Utah Jazz on draft night. At 7'1'' with a 7'9'' wingspan, he's one of the best defenders in the league and is a throwback to old-school centers.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by TonyTheTiger / ChristopherM01 / Hayden Schiff

De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley III play for what California team?

Los Angeles Lakers

Golden State Warriors

Sacramento Kings

Los Angeles Clippers

De'Aaron Fox played his college ball at the University of Kentucky and Marvin Bagley III played for Coach K at Duke, so both players come from great college programs. The Kings also named former Lakers coach Luke Walton as head coach in 2019.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Mike / Keith Allison

Isaiah Thomas recently joined John Wall and Bradley Beal on what East Coast team?

Boston Celtics

Washington Wizards

Atlanta Hawks

Orlando Magic

The Washington Wizards was known as the Washington Bullets between 1974 and 1997 but changed to the Wizards because of the city's high crime rate and negative connotation of the name. Wall, Beal and Thomas have all made All-Star games.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Dennis Adair / Keith Allison

Willie Cauley-Stein joined the Splash Brothers, the duo that includes Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, on what championship team?

Toronto Raptors

Los Angeles Lakers

Golden State Warriors

Boston Celtics

The Golden State Warriors have been the most dominate NBA team of the 2010s and appeared in five straight finals from 2015 to 2019. Fans gave Steph Curry and Klay Thompson the nickname "Splash Brothers" because of their three-point shooting.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Verse Photography / Keith Allison

Chris Paul, Steven Adams and Andre Roberson play for what West Coast team?

Denver Nuggets

Indiana Pacers

Utah Jazz

Oklahoma City Thunder

With Russell Westbrook out in OKC, Chris Paul is in. The team hasn't had much success in the past few years and has under-performed in the playoffs all decade. They aren't expected to be a top contender in 2020.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keenan Hairston / TonyTheTiger

College phenom Zion Williamson will play alongside Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram on what NBA team?

Charlotte Hornets

Brooklyn Nets

Oklahoma City Thunder

New Orleans Pelicans

Anthony Davis was the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2012 draft and played his entire career in New Orleans. They traded him to the Lakers for Ball and Ingram, and the Pelicans added a new No. 1 pick to the squad in Williamson.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison

DeMar DeRozan moved from Toronto and joined LaMarcus Aldridge and Patty Mills on what team coached by Gregg Popovich?

San Antonio Spurs

Houston Rockets

Dallas Mavericks

Los Angeles Clippers

When the Vancouver Grizzlies moved to Memphis for the 2001 season, the Raptors became the only Canadian NBA team. DeRozen started his career in Toronto but was traded for Kawhi Leonard in a blockbuster off-season deal.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by TonyTheTiger / Keith Allison / Mike

The star of a hit rap song, Mo Bamba, plays with Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic for what franchise?

Atlanta Hawks

Sacramento Kings

Orlando Magic

Phoenix Suns

Mohamed Bamba played one year for the Texas Longhorns before joining the NBA's Orlando Magic in 2018 — drafted sixth overall. He's friends with rapper Sheck Wes, who's 2017 hit track "Mo Bamba" is named for the NBA center.

Michael Porter Jr. was one of the best high school basketball players in the country, but after a back injury forced him to sit out almost the entirety of his one year at the University of Missouri, he dropped to the 14th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

What team do Udonis Haslem, James Johnson and Kelly Olynyk play for?

Miami Heat

Charlotte Hornets

New York Knicks

Atlanta Hawks

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra began his career as a player-coach in Germany before climbing the ladder from video coordinator to assistant coach to head coach of the two-time NBA Championship Miami Heat. He also led the Heat to four consecutive Finals appearances.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Jan Fante / Chensiyuan / Keith Allison

LeBron James, DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis are expected to bring a championship to what West Coast team?

Los Angeles Lakers

Phoenix Suns

Sacramento Kings

Los Angeles Clippers

The two favorites for the 2020 NBA Championship both play out of the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The Lakers didn't make the playoffs last year, but with the addition of Cousins and Davis, that result won't cut it in 2020.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / TonyTheTiger / slammindouai.com

Terry Rozier, Miles Bridges and Nicolas Batum all play on what team?

Charlotte Hornets

Atlanta Hawks

Orlando Magic

Philadelphia 76ers

The Charlotte Hornets traded their best player, Kemba Walker, to the Boston Celtics, and the team got Terry Rozier in return. Rozier was a pure scorer for the Boston Celtics, and with the ball in his hand more, he will surely be a great force on the team.

Zach Lavine, Kris Dunn and Otto Porter Jr. are tasked with bringing the first championship to what team since Michael Jordan?

Chicago Bulls

Charlotte Hornets

Cleveland Cavaliers

Washington Wizards

The Chicago Bulls franchise has won six championships in NBA history, and they all came in the 1990s when Michael Jordan led the team to two separate three-peats. The team has struggled mightily since and hasn't made the NBA Finals since he left.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / Erik Drost

Kevin Durant moved across the country from Los Angeles to join Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie on what East Coast team?

Boston Celtics

Brooklyn Nets

Philadelphia 76ers

New York Knicks

The biggest move of the 2019 offseason was when Kevin Durant took his talents to Brooklyn. The team also acquired Kyrie Irving from the Boston Celtics, and once Durant is healthy and playing, they will be strong contenders for a championship.

Marcus Smart, Semi Ojeleye and Jaylen Brown are the heart and soul of what team?

Orlando Magic

Indiana Pacers

Boston Celtics

Detroit Pistons

Both Smart and Brown were first-round draft picks by the Boston Celtics. The team's backbone, Al Horford, departed for Philly in the 2019 off-season, but the team has a strong core and some new pieces to make a run in 2020.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Mike / Keith Allison / Adam Glanzman

Tobias Harris, Al Horford and Trey Burke give what team one of the deepest rosters in the league?

Golden State Warriors

Philadelphia 76ers

Oklahoma City Thunder

Houston Rockets

The Philadelphia 76ers have one of the deepest rosters in the league with multiple current and former NBA All-Stars. The team underperformed in the 2019 season and added Al Horford and Trey Burke for the 2020 season.

Advertisement

Wiki Commons by Keith Allison / Erik Drost

Kemba Walker, Gordon Hayward and Jayson Tatum hope to bring what East Coast powerhouse to the finals?

Houston Rockets

Philadelphia 76ers

Boston Celtics

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Boston Celtics fought seven hard games in the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals against the Lebron-led Cavaliers and were expected to make the NBA Finals in 2019. They didn't even make it to the conference finals, and the team has a revamped roster for the 2020 season.

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Get smarter every day! Subscribe & get 1 quiz every week.

Playing quizzes is free! We send trivia questions and personality tests every week to your inbox. By clicking "Sign Up" you are agreeing to our
privacy policy
and confirming that you are 13 years old or over.